• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3419-3424
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• 2014

Background: Our aim was to conduct a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed and docetaxel for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, China Biology Medicine Database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and toxicities of pemetrexed versus docetaxel as a treatment for advanced NSCLC. We limited the languages to English and Chinese. Two reviewers independently screened articles to identify eligible trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed the methodological quality of included trials, and then extracted data. The meta-analysis was performed using STATA12.0. Results: Six RCTs involving 1,414 patients were identified. We found that there was no statistically significant differences in overall response rate, survival time, progression-free survival, disease control rate, and 1-2yr survival rate (p>0.050) but it is worthy of mention that patients in the pemetrexed arms had significantly higher 3-yr survival rate (P=0.002). With regard to the grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity, compared with docetaxel, pemetrexed led to lower rate of grade 3-4 febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, and leukocyts toxicity (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in anemia between the two arms (p=0.08). In addition, pemetrexed led to higher rate of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia toxicity (p=0.03). As for the non-hematological toxicities, compared with docetaxel, pemetrexed group had lower rate of grade 3-4 diarrhea and alopecia. Conclusions: Pemetrexed was almost as effective as docetaxel in patients with advanced NSCLC. At the same time, pemetrexed might increase the 3-yr survival rate. As for safety, pemetrexed led to lower rate of grade 3-4 febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, leukocytes, diarrhea and alopecia toxicity. However, it was associated with a higher rate of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-184
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• 2009

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia(IMHA) is one of the most common causes of anemia in small animals and immune-mediate thrombocytopenia(IMT) is also an immune mediated disease that affects small animals. The initial treatment for IMHA and IMT is medical suppression of the immune system with glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive drugs. However, even with appropriate treatments, some animals are not responsive to the treatment and may need further immunosuppressive therapies or some alternative medicines. An eight-year-old spayed female Siamese cat with IMHA and an eight-year-old castrated male King Charles Spaniel dog with IMT were referred to the traditional medical service of the veterinary medical center. Both animals were unresponsive to steroids or other immunosuppressive treatments. Gui-Pi-Tang, one of the traditional herbal medicines, was administered to the animals. After 1-month of Gui-Pi-Tang administration, the packed cell volume(PCV) of the cat and platelets count of the dog had showed remarkable improvement. After four months of follow up in the cat, and 18 months of follow up in the dog, the improved PCV and platelet counts of the animals were maintained normally. Therefore, Gui-Pi-Tang might be considered as an alternative treatment in small animals with immune-mediated blood disorders.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2009

Purpose: This study explored and evaluated the systemic complications resulting from the bite of Korean venomous snake, focussing on hematologic and neurologic features. Methods: Medical records (demographic data, clinical measurements including laboratory results, severity score, and amount of antidote administration, and hospitalization course) of consecutive patients who presented with snakebites to two university teaching hospital during a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Subgroup analysis was conducted for evaluations of anti-acetylcholine esterase administration in complicated victims. Results: The 170 patients displayed occurrence rates of hematologic and neurologic complications of 12.9% and 20.6%, respectively. Among 22 patients with hematologic complications, isolated thrombocytopenia was evident in eight patients (36.4%), prothrombin time (PT) / activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) prolongation in 11 patients (50.0%), and both in three patients (13.6%). The mean time to recovery was $4.5{\pm}1.8$ days for isolated thrombocytopenia, and $5.1{\pm}1.8$ days for PT and aPTT prolongation. Hematologic complications could occur suddenly 1?4 days after hospitalization. Among 35 patients with neurologic complications, dizziness was evident in 16 patients (45.7%), and diplopia / blurred vision in 19 patients (54.3%). The mean time to recovery was $3.4{\pm}0.6$ days in patients receiving anti-acetylcholine esterase and $6.9{\pm}1.8$ days in those not receiving anti-acetylcholine esterase (p=0.00). Conclusion: Occurrence rates of hematologic and neurologic complications following venomous snake bite differed as compared to other studies conducted in Korea. Onset of hematologic complications can occur rapidly days after admittance. Anti-acetylcholine esterase administration may be effective in treating neurologic complications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2019

The seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was monitored with a collection trap method every April to November during 2015-2018 and with a flagging method every July and August during 2015-2018 in Ganghwa-do (island) of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. This monitoring was performed in a copse, a short grass field, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest. A total of 17,457 ticks (8,277 larvae, 4,137 nymphs, 3,389 females, and 1,654 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) were collected with collection traps. Of the identified ticks, H. longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ticks) (94.26%, 8,653/9,180 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (5.71%, 524/9,180) and Ix. nipponensis (less than 0.04%, 3/9,180). The ticks collected with collecting traps were pooled and assayed for the presence of SFTS virus with negative results. In addition, for monitoring the prevalence of hard ticks, a total of 7,461 ticks (5,529 larvae, 1,272 nymphs, 469 females, and 191 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ix. nipponensis) were collected with flagging method. H. longicornis was the highest collected ticks (except larval ticks) (99.53%, 1,908/1,917 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (1.15%, 22/1,917).

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiologic features of febrile illnesses in newborns and to predict the risk of serious infections in this population. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 123 full-term infants <30 days of age with an axillary temperature >38$^{\circ}C$ who were hospitalized between 2000 and 2006. Neonates with prenatal risk factors, congenital anomalies, antibiotic administration prior to admission to the hospital, or suspected hospital-acquired infections were excluded. We evaluated the symptoms, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and clinical course between the high- and low-risk groups for serious infections. Results : The high-risk group included 30 infants with the following diagnoses in order of frequency: aseptic meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacterial meningitis, infectious enteritis, sepsis concomitant with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, bacteremia, pneumonia, cellulitis, and omphalitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia were statistically different between the two groups. Factors, such as moaning signs, seizures, body temperature, and pulse rate were statistically significant. Conclusion : Unlike previous studies, we included newborns with clinical bacterial infections and aseptic meningitis as the high-risk group. Leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, moaning signs, seizures, and changes in vital signs were considered useful predictors for identifying febrile neonates at high-risk for serious infections in spite of a difference in the definition of serious infection.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2020

The distribution of ticks and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) pathogens were investigated by collecting ticks from March to November 2018 in four environments (grass fields, copses, mountain roads, and tombs) in Jeju. Three thousand and ninety ticks were collected using a tick trap, and 1,569 ticks were collected using the flagging method. Of the 4,659 ticks collected, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis flava accounted for 4,440 ticks (95.2%) and 219 ticks (4.7%), respectively. Nine hundred and fifty, 883, 847, and 410 ticks were collected from grass fields, copses, mountain roads, and tombs, respectively, using tick traps, whereas 704, 472, 197, and 196 ticks were collected from copses, mountain roads, tombs, and grass fields, respectively, using the flagging method. The largest fraction of ticks (2,978) was collected from April to August, and most were collected in May and June. Adult ticks comprised 94 percent of the total ticks from June to August. SFTSV was not detected in the 4,440 H. longicornis ticks or the 219 H. flava ticks collected in this study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.507-521
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• 1999

Osteopetrosis is an uncommon hereditary bone disorder whose prominent radiologic feature characterized by increased bone density. The authors reported a 7-year-old male patient who referred from local dental clinic for dental problems such as early exfoliation of deciduous teeth(#54,73,83) and delayed eruption of permanent teeth(#31.41.36.46). The patient appeared as a poorly developed. Dental X-ray films showed early exfoliation of deciduous teeth, delayed eruption of permanent teeth, and rampant caries. Lateral view of skull demonstrated increased opacity of calvarium, facial bones, and skull base. Generally the skeletal density is greatly increased throughout all bones. Facial CT showed poor development of paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells. No hematopoietic and neurologic complications such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, blindness and deafness were found. Also mental retardation was not found. The final diagnosis of this case was a osteopetrosis tarda. Sometimes patient with osteopetrosis tarda may be developed dental problems prior to severe systemic symptoms. The dentist can be the first clinician to see the patient. It is very important for the dentist to have the knowledge of the osteopetrosis and to care the patient's dental problems to prevent complication such as osteomyelitis of jaws.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

Objectives : Contradictions for Oncology acupuncture were searched and reviewed to establish fundamentals for the appropriate contraindication guideline. Methods : In order to search contraindications for oncology acupuncture, domestic journals, books and online database of Pubmed were searched using the terms, cancer, tumor, acupuncture, safety, contraindications and guideline were below. Results : We found 7 papers and 1 book by the above methods. We reviewed and suggested the contraindications. Contraindications for oncology acupuncture are neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count : ANC less than $500/mm^3$), thrombocytopenia (platelets less than $50,000/mm^3$), anticoagulant use, spinal instability, tumour nodule, lymphedema, prosthesis, intracranial deficits, confused patients, significant arrhythmia, patient refusal to treatment, severe neurotic patients and intracardiac defribillator. Contraindications for using semi-permanent needles are neutropenia (ANC less than $500/mm^3$), splenectomy, valvular heart disease, B, C hepatitis and keloids. Conclusions : Acupuncture for cancer patients pose significant risks but these guidelines are proposed in the hopes of providing certain boundaries in practicing oncology acupuncture. A more systematic and rigorous research is needed to establish a more reliable oncology acupuncture guidelines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8475-8478
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• 2014

Purpose: This systematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed-based chemoradiotherapy in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based regimens on response and safety for relevant patients were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) were calculated. Results: For pemetrexed-based regimens, 4 clinical studies including 47 patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. Systematic analysis showed that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 51% (24/47). Major adverse effects of grade III/IV were esophagitis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia anorexia, fatigue, diarrhea, dysphagia and vomiting. No treatment related death occurred with pemetrexed-based treatment. Conclusion: This systematic analysis suggests that pemetrexed based radiotherapy is associated with reasonable activity and good tolerability in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2012

Objective : To present an overview of current reports and guidelines of physical activity and exercise intervention for cancer survivors Methods : We searched Pubmed for the related studies such as randomized controlled trials and observational studies, as well as published guidelines or recommendations for exercise intervention. Results : Physical activity and exercise intervention is considered safe and effective for most cancer survivors. According to the guidelines, patients with peripheral neuropathy, musculoskeletal disorder, or those who are at risk of fracture, should undergo proper medical assessment before starting exercise intervention. Also, patients with bone metastasis, thrombocytopenia, symptomatic anemia, or acute infection may fall into one of the contraindications of exercise intervention. Conclusions : Physical activity and exercise intervention may play a major role in improving physical functioning, quality of life, or treatment-related symptoms of cancer survivors. It is necessary to recognize the benefits and precautions of exercise in caring cancer patients.